Monthly Archives: March 2014

Garden Plants and Early Veggies Welcome Spring 2014!

March 31, 2014

Customers browse young garden plant seedlings from local farms

Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day. That old nursery rhyme could have been used to describe how we all felt about last Saturday morning. It felt like a wet, winter day but all it took was one step under the Franklin Farmers Market shed to know that spring is really here. All you had to do was to take a look around and see the signs of spring popping up all over the place. Of course, there were lots of good veggies, like greens and sweet carrots perfect for a good salad. And we saw several of you buying cuts of tender meat to throw on the grill soon.

Kale and Carrots from Kirkview Farm

Fresh spinach, lettuces and eggs from Somethin’ to do Farm

Karen so proud of her local grown sweet carrots

Newly harvested celery from Rocky Glade Farm

A sample CSA basket from Beaverdam Creek Farm

Farm grown leaks from Pilgrims Produce

Fresh heads of lettuce just picked from Rocky Glade Farm

But there also blooms of color and garden plant seedlings everywhere, perfect to plant for a little backyard garden. We always know warmer weather is just around the corner when Purple Tree Farm is back at market with veggie plant seedlings and beautiful hanging baskets. Or when we see the bedding plants and bright marigolds from Kirkview Farms and the healthy plant slips from Paradise Produce. Then there were the lavender and rosemary plants from Earth Advocates Research Farm and the blooms of their beautiful Lenten Roses.

Many choices of garden

Red Beet plants for your home garden from Paradise Farm

Beautiful flowering plants from Earth Advocate Research Farm

Marigold plants from Kirkview Farm

Lush green ferns from Purple Tree Farm

Tomato plants from Kirkview Farm

Lettuces and swill chard starts

With all of the signs of spring at the market, we got a few questions about the market’s Growing Kids Educational Garden this past Saturday too. Veggies, fruits and flowers will soon be growing in the kids’ garden which is just across Franklin Road in the Park at Harlinsdale Farm. This is the 4^th year for the garden classes, which are perfect for teaching kids about the environment and where food really comes from. Classes begin on April 22^nd and are designed for kids Pre-K to 3^rd grade. And it’s all free! Get more info on the classes for April & May on the Kids’ page.

And finally with the warmer days of spring, comes a change in the market hours. Starting this upcoming weekend on April 5^th, the Franklin Farmers Market will open one hour earlier. Market hours in April will be 8am to noon each Saturday, giving you longer hours to visit the market. Yes, spring has definitely arrived! Visit Saturday Photos to see what was in market.

Someone is happy Spring has Sprung!

Local Tennessean’s come together at the Franklin Farmers Market every Saturday morning see good friends and buy farm fresh food

Fresh Lettuce, Spring Flowers and Local Farm CSA Sign Ups

March 24, 2014

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Colorful spring flowers from Blooming Baskets

There’s nothing better than that first splash of bright color in the spring. The shades of purple and yellow on sweet pansies and Dutch iris and the beautiful pink of blooming hyacinth could all be found at the Franklin Farmers Market this past Saturday. The spring season is not quite a week old and it’s not as warm as we would like for it to be yet, but it doesn’t matter. Everyone seems to be happy about the official change of the seasons on the calendar. Overall, it was just a colorful day at the market. Besides the early spring blooms, there were bright orange and yellow carrots along with the greens of lettuce. There were big splashes of color from local artwork too. You could even see hints around the market that a visit from the Easter bunny would be happening soon. So while the temperatures may be a bit cooler than usual, spring is definitely here and that makes our farmers and everyone else very happy.

Kirkview Farm’s tasty greens

Fresh carrots from Norton Farm

Norton Farm’s lettuce

Potatoes and squash from Kirkview Farm

As you can see, carrots are not always orange!

Eggs from Somethin’ To Do Farm

Crepe A Diem’s dishes are popular!

Blooming Baskets’ beautiful flowers

Young plants from Kirkview Farm

So think about this for a minute – March is almost over, April is knocking on the door and before you know it, May will be here. And along with that warmer weather come the vegetables and fruit you’ve been craving since last summer. Of course, you are not the only one that’s longing for the taste of strawberries or tender young asparagus. There’s always a mad dash for fresh food at the market. But you can be one step ahead of everyone else by getting a CSA from your favorite farmer. A CSA automatically gives you the best in fresh food that’s available. Many of the farmers are signing up people up for a CSA now. Look for CSA signs at the farm booths around the market or just ask your favorite farmer if he or she has a CSA program.

Fresh breads from Flying S Farm

Sweet jam from Jones Mill Farms

Hatcher Dairy’s goodies

Delicious soups from Lucy’s Kitchen

Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese is always great!

kids2 And with the arrival of spring, we’ve started playing in the dirt. The preparation of the Growing Kids garden has begun and soon, a lot of young gardeners will be planting and learning about food and the environment. Classes at the Growing Kids Educational Garden are free and designed for kids from Pre-K to 3^rd grade. It’s a hands-on, creative fun way to find out where food really comes from. Get more info on the Growing Kids garden and to register for classes. The first class at the kids’ garden is scheduled for April 22^nd!

Organics in Motion makes garden soil great

Seedlings to plant from Paradise Produce

Check out what was in market this past Saturday by visiting our FFM website Photo Gallery.

Spring like weather brings large crowd for Farm Fresh Food

March 17, 2014

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Fresh picked mixed lettuces from Norton Family Farm

Isn’t it funny how the weather can affect your mood? Days of cold, cloudy weather can really bring you down, but when that first bright sunshiny day pops up, it’s amazing to see all the happy faces out and about. That’s the way it was this past Saturday at the Franklin Farmers Market. There was a big bunch of people all over the place, talking, smiling and picking up some of the best in fresh food from local farms that you could ever find. There were vegetables like sweet crunchy carrots and fresh lettuce for salads, along with sweet potatoes and herbs to spice things up a bit.

Fresh eggs and produce from the Somethin’ to do Farm

Sweet carrots from Norton Family Farm

A proud Grandma with her new twin baby girls!

Farm raised beef from River Cottage Farm

And then there were all types of soups, baked goods and sweets to take home.

Home baked pies from Pappa C Pies

Pretzels from BB’s Gourmet Pretzels

Sunshine cookies from Flying S Farm

Farm made preserves from Flyring S Farm

Hummus, pimento and chicken salads from Lucy’s Kitchen

Fresh baked breads from Twin Forks Farm

Home made Hummus from the Hummus Chick

All very delicious, but we’re anxiously waiting for the first real spring veggie to show up. There’s a whole lot of back and forth with the weather in March. It could be freezing cold one day and in the 70’s the next. But the official first day of spring is now just 3 days away and very soon, the first of the spring vegetables will be ripe and ready. We talked to all of the farmers at the market this past Saturday, asking about their spring crops. And after doing so, we’re betting that asparagus will be the first spring veggie to make an appearance at the market. Then again, broccoli or snow peas could surprise us and show up a bit early. But whichever one shows up first, it doesn’t matter. We’re just like you are…. Hungry for spring!

Saturday was the perfect day to be outside walking the dog, so we understand why some folks brought their dogs with them to the market. Unfortunately, the Franklin Farmers Market is not the place for the dogs. As much as we love them ourselves, dogs are no longer allowed at the market due to health and safety concerns. We’re asking everyone to please respect the market’s policy – don’t bring your pets to market!

That great sunshine on Saturday is the type of weather that makes you want to play in the dirt. We’re talking gardening. And we’re inviting your kids to play in the dirt and learn a little something about their food and the environment. The class schedule for our Growing Kids Educational Garden is now posted on the Kids section of our website. Classes begin in April and are designed for kids from pre-k to 3^rd grade. And the classes are free! It’s a great way for your kids to learn where their food really comes from, with hands-on fun in the garden. Click here to get details and sign up for classes. Learn to Grow – Grow to Learn!

Over 20 new signs from Tom the Furniture Guy

Judy’s homemade soups from Jones Mill Farm

POLL: What Fresh Vegetables and Fruits are you Missing Most?

March 13, 2014

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Summer Market Veggies

We miss them all! The summertime fresh vegetables and fruits that we love to eat. Don’t get us wrong – winter vegetables do make for good comfort food. But winter has gone on too long and we’re ready for the warm temperatures and the fresh vegetables and fruits of summer. Which veggie or fruit are you missing the most right now? Is it a ripe juicy tomato? Or maybe a strawberry is what you’re craving. Take our summer favorites poll and let us know what vegetable or fruit you’d love to find at the market now. It’s good info for our farmers, because it helps them to know what they should plant more of for this coming summer’s crop. Pick three of your favorites now!

Vote for 3 of your favorite veggies:

What 3 vegetables are you missing the most right now?

Cabbage (4%, 8 Votes)
Cucumbers (13%, 24 Votes)
Green Beans (19%, 35 Votes)
Peppers (10%, 18 Votes)
Sweet Corn (22%, 39 Votes)
Tomatoes (30%, 55 Votes)
(1%, 2 Votes)

Total Voters: 65

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Vote for 1 of your favorite fruits:

What fresh fruit are you missing most?

Strawberries (55%, 36 Votes)
Blueberries (20%, 13 Votes)
Cantaloupes (8%, 5 Votes)
Watermelons (17%, 11 Votes)

Total Voters: 65

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Blue Skies and Warm Weather bring out New Customers to Farmers Market

March 10, 2014

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Never mind that one week ago, we had snow and ice on the ground. Saturday, it was sunshine and pleasant temperatures at the market. We even spotted a few folks dressed in t-shirts and shorts happily strolling around the market. It was a good day to grab great fresh food. Colorful carrots, apples and squash were plentiful, along with tender fresh lettuce.

Fresh Carrots from Norton Family Farm

Just picked kale from Kirkview Farm

Squash and carrots from Kirkview Farm

Fresh eggs from Moonshadow Farm

Homemade soups from Lucy’s Kitchen

Lots of dairy goods and sweet treats too, such as cookies, pies and muffins were being snatched up and not all of it was making it out of the market. We spied some of you happily munching away while you walked around.

Home baked cookies from Dozen

Fresh made hummus from Hummus Chick

A young shopper with her basket

Handcrafted Jewelry from Rockin’ Robbin Ranch Design

Antler dinnerware from Antlers

Maple Pecan Bars from Flying S Farm

Farm made goat soap from Totty’s Bend Farm and Dairy

Barwood Signs from Tom the Furniture Guy

Nursery Plants from Earth Advocates Research Farm

And what is it about sunshine and warmer temperatures that make us want to fire up the grill? There seemed to be quite a few of you walking out of the market with steaks or hamburger to grill out. The official first day of spring is just 10 days away and we’re ready for the greening of trees and lawns, along with the beauty of spring flowers. Everybody got a little tease of spring at the market, with early blooming plants with bright flowers. All in all, we have to say it really was the perfect sunny day at the market!

With warmer temperatures and sunshine comes the urge to start digging in the dirt. You know what we’re talking about. It’s time to get gardens in shape and start growing. And while gardens can take a lot of work, it’s a great place for kids to learn a lot. Things like where food really comes from or why ladybugs are super heroes in a garden. With classes like the Poop Pot Project and Doing the Worm Wiggle, kids can learn a lot in the market’s Growing Kids Educational Garden this spring. It’s a fun, hands-on way to learn about the environment, nutrition and how things grow. The free classes at the garden begin on April 22^nd and are designed for kids pre-k through 3^rd grade. Registration for April and May classes begins today. Get more info about the Growing Kids garden and download registration forms by clicking here. Learn to Grow – Grow to Learn!

Want to see more pictures from this past Saturday’s market? Just click here.

Farm ground cornmeal from Beaverdam Creek Farm

Fresh made granola

Finally! March is Here and Spring is in Sight!

March 3, 2014

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So the sun wasn’t shining at the market this past Saturday, but nobody seemed to care. Why? Because it was the first day of March which means spring is just around the corner and we can kiss that polar vortex weather goodbye. And while it won’t be long before you start seeing spring veggies, there are still plenty of tasty winter vegetables to be found. There were lots of winter greens at the market on Saturday to enjoy, along with the ingredients for a fresh salad of tender just picked lettuce, carrots and radishes.

Norton Family Farm just picked lettuce mix

Farm Fresh Carrots from Norton Family Farm

Beautiful fresh lettuces, kale, radishes and herbs from Rocky Glade Farm

And while a lot of you were picking up fresh vegetables from the market farms, we saw plenty of you munching on sweets too, such as muffins, donuts and cookies as you walked around the market.

Fresh Baked Cookies by Dozen

Flying S Farm Apple pies

Oh so good! An Ellie’s Old Fashioned Doughnut fan

Kirkview Farm Kale, Carrots and Butternut Squash

The official first day of spring is March 20^th, but you don’t need a calendar to tell you that spring is fast approaching. All you have to do is look around the market and see all of the farms with CSA signs. Now’s the time to sign up for a CSA share from your favorite farm so that you’ll get a weekly box of the best, in-season fruits and vegetables throughout the spring and summer. Many of the farms a CSA program, so look for their CSA signs or ask if they offer CSA’s.

Greg Brown, owner of Ford Lincoln of Franklin , our new Corporate Sponsor for 2014 with market management and farmers

And it’s now official – Ford Lincoln of Franklin is the first corporate sponsor of the Franklin Farmers Market. The Franklin Farmers Market is a non-profit 501(c)5 agricultural organization and with all of the support from the great sponsors of the market, we are able to help local farms to keep growing. And it also helps us bring great events to the market, such as the FFM Strawberry Festival and supports projects such as the Growing Kids Educational Garden. Our sincere thanks to Greg Brown, owner of Ford-Lincoln of Franklin – Welcome to the market family!

Alpaca hand knitted ski caps by Legacy Acres Alpaca Farm

Hand made Soy Candles by Intoxicating Aromas

Custom creation of Miniatures by Phillip

Red Rooster painted on real barn wood by Tom the Furniture Guy